Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Lipshitz - Halberstam

ליפשיץ-הלברשטם, האדמו"ר מסטראפקוב יחזקאל שרגא

Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Lipshitz - Halberstam (3rd of Nisan 5668 - 6th of Kislev 5755) was the Rebbe of Stropkov. He was born on the 3rd of Nisan 5668 in Stropkov. In 5692 (1932), he married Mrs. Miriam Leah, daughter of Rabbi Yitzchak Reuven Lipshitz, Av Beit Din of Tcharny-Donayetz, and lived in his father-in-law’s home after his marriage. He was appointed as the rabbi of the town of Yablonka and also served as a dayan (judge) and teacher of righteousness for the community of Bergsaz.

On the 5th of Nisan 5704 (1944), he was sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where his wife and six children were murdered, may their memory be a blessing. After the war, he served as the rabbi of the displaced persons camps in Bamberg and Franconia. On the 20th of Shevat 5706 (1946), he married again, this time to the Rebbetzin Mrs. Taba (who passed away on the 25th of Iyar 5767), daughter of Rabbi Yechiel Michel Schlager, Av Beit Din of Bukaczowce, and moved to Vienna. Soon after, he relocated to Bamberg, where he founded the 'Yeshivat She'erit HaPleitah' and delivered lessons in Talmud and its commentaries. On the 29th of Kislev 5709 (1948), he immigrated to Israel and settled in Be'er Yaakov. After a short time, he moved to Ramla, where he established the "Divrei Chaim" Beit Midrash and a mikvah and worked to spread Judaism in the city. In 5713 (1953), he moved to Jerusalem and lived in the Geula neighborhood. He founded the Stropkov Chassidim Beit Midrash in the Mea Shearim neighborhood. Later, he established another Beit Midrash for the chassidus in Bnei Brak. After the passing of his uncle, the Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Stropkov, on the 6th of Iyar 5714 (1954), he was appointed Rebbe of Stropkov and established the Stropkov chassidus in Israel. He founded a yeshiva in Jerusalem and led it. He served as a halachic authority, specializing in issues related to eruvin and mikvaot. His Beit Midrash was based in Mea Shearim, Jerusalem.

He passed away on the 6th of Kislev 5755 (1994) and was buried on Har HaMenuchot in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga corresponded regularly with the Rebbe, and these letters were later printed in the series of books "Igrot Kodesh." Among the topics discussed were the laws of Torah study taking precedence over aiding a bride, or vice versa, the study of specific tractates, the laws of Shemittah, clinging to a tzaddik, the necessity of studying the inner dimensions of Torah, the laws of the Sanhedrin, machine-made tzitzit, and machine-made matzah.

He was deeply involved in studying the holy Tanya, especially during the month of Elul. He even acquired a small Tanya, which he would study frequently during his travels.

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